By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

A cat carrier filled with 16 kittens abandoned on the side of the road recently has left animal activists advising other solutions.

And Isle of Wight Animal Services is seeking information about the carrier found at Fire Tower Road and Route 258 in the Windsor/Zuni area in the early morning hours, according to the Isle of Wight Animal Shelter’s Facebook post.

Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight Animal Shelter is working with the non-profit Cat Corner of Hampton to help manage the sudden influx of 16 kittens, said Isle of Wight County Animal Control Officer Tiffany Webb. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The kittens will be available for adoption once they are cleared by the veterinarian.

Webb said residents are asked to work with the shelter, which will contact outside rescue organizations, foster care facilities and others if the shelter itself is full.

By surrendering kittens in person, the shelter is able to make them available for adoption immediately rather than having to wait a week in the case of strays, Webb said.

Rachel Smith with the Isle of Wight County Humane Society said that prior to unwanted litters of kittens, they are able to help residents financially with the cost of spaying and neutering. The Society can nearly always pay 50 percent of the cost, and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) also has a “snip van” that regularly visits Isle of Wight County and offers discount rates on spay and neuter. The Society also has a host of individuals who can foster animals until permanent homes can be found, Smith said.

Smith also advises those burdened with unwanted kittens take them to the shelter rather than dumping them on the side of the road.

“Give them a chance to be cared for, be adopted. It’s not a solution, dumping your animals on the side of the road,” she said.

For more information about the Isle of Wight Humane Society, email info@iowchs.org or call 357-4214 and leave a message.

The Isle of Wight County Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. For more information, call 365-6318.

To learn more about the Cat Corner, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheCatCornerInc.  {/mprestriction}